Rafael Nadal has risen to world No1 while Andy Murray has been beset by injuries

If Murray did not earn any more ranking points this year, his current total of 7,150 would fall to 2,290 and leave him as the world No 19, assuming his rivals continued to pick up points at their current rate.

And that would place the Scot being in danger of playing Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal as early as the third round of the Australian Open in January.

But former British No 1 Greg Rusedski believes a fully recovered Murray will be able to compete at the highest level again.

Rusedski said: “I wouldn’t worry about the seedings.

“If Murray is healthy, he will get back to the top of men’s tennis.

“I think he’s doing the right thing taking the rest of the season off.

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“He says he might come back for Paris or the end of season championships but I don’t see that happening,

“Let’s hope it’s not too serious and he doesn’t need surgery for it because it would be great to have Andy Murray back, especially with what he’s done in his career and how well he’s played over the last few years.”

Murray said on Facebook: “Although this has been a frustrating year on court for many reasons, I’m confident after this extended period of rest and rehabilitation that I will be able to reach my best level again and be competing for Grand Slam titles next season.”

Federer, now 36, took six months off after losing at Wimbledon last year to recover properly from a knee injury. He returned in style, winning the Australian Open, then the sunshine double of the Indian Wells and Miami Masters and, of course, Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal also took the last few months of 2016 off to solve a wrist problem and has reaped the rewards with an impressive 2017 which has so far included his 10th French Open title.

Coco Vandeweghe beat Karolina Pliskova 7-6 6-3 to reach the semi finals of the US Open and give women's tennis a new world No 1.

Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, who lost in the fourth round, will take over from Pliskova when the new rankings are published on Monday because Pliskova failed to match her achievement of reaching the final last year.